Ethics question - birth control

[cbrons]

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Female patient comes to clinic and asks for birth control pill. Which of the following is true:

A.) Physician must prescribe pill no matter what his/her personal beliefs
B.) Physician does not have to prescribe pill on the basis of personal/moral objections, so long as he refers patient to another provider.

 

[seminoma]

B

 

[SpartanWolverine]

Reminds me a bit of a recent story where a pediatrician refused care because the parents were lesbians.

I don't personally approve, but I believe "B" is the legally correct answer.

 

[seminoma]

Reminds me a bit of the recent story where a pediatrician refused care because the parents were lesbians.

I don't personally approve, but I believe "B" is the legally correct answer.

It's also the ethically correct answer.

 

[SpartanWolverine]

It's also the ethically correct answer.

Sure. As long as timely access to the desired services are offered to the patient.

 

[touchpause13]

This is an ethics question so the answer is C) it depends.

Where are they located? How much of a burden is it for the patient? Does she have to drive 2 hours to another doc in order to get it? Why does she need bc? I think it's not as simple as A or B

 

[seminoma]

This is an ethics question so the answer is C) it depends.

Where are they located? How much of a burden is it for the patient? Does she have to drive 2 hours to another doc in order to get it? Why does she need bc? I think it's not as simple as A or B

Ethics questions have right answers just as basic science questions have right answers. You can add on qualifiers/situational assumptions to change the answer, but with only the information provided there is a right answer all the time.

If it isn't emergent there is no ethical requirement to treat a patient.

Opinions may vary and you may believe that the physician is obligated to treat the pt if it would be inconvenient for the pt to find another physician, but that doesn't obligate anyone to treat.

 

[cbrons]

Ty all